Raising Sera- Lineage

by Andre Ellison

  ***

  Chronos gazed into the Occulus. An image of Neoma appeared before him. He clenched the orb close to his bare chest. The vision of Neoma disappeared. An orange glow emerged and radiated beneath his skin. Hollow screams echoed from within his body.

  He held the Occulus out in front of him.

  "Gaia," he roared.

  PENDULUM

  Beaten Path

  A smooth tongue licked Ethan’s cheek. He flinched at the excessive drool before blinking his eyes open. He stared into the eyes of a panting wolfdog as its warm breath beat against his face.

  He scurried backwards.

  On the dusty highway, Ethan distanced himself from the approaching beast until finally he stopped and bumped into a pair of long legs behind him.

  "Rise and shine...” a voice mocked in a raspy tone. “It's time you woke up."

  Ethan looked up at the subject of the voice. A hooded cloaked, pale-skinned man loomed over him with disinterest. Hecatan and Osira stood next to him.

  Ethan tensed up as the dog advanced towards him.

  "Relax, Ethan," Hecatan advised. "The flow of the lifestream is very active now. If you overexert yourself, you will not be of much use."

  Ethan clenched his chest as he fell on his back. Sweat poured from his forehead as he begun shaking. The dog stalked closer towards him. It settled by his side and whimpered ceremoniously.

  "He's convulsing," Hecatan directed. "Let’s roll him over!”

  Osira assisted Hecatan as Erebus watched.

  “You too...” she ordered. “Help!”

  Erebus ignored Osira and crossed his arms.

  “Relax,” Osira uttered as Ethan broke from his seizure.

  Hecatan looked at him.

  “We’re here to help you...” she spoke. “But to be honest, it’s us who need you.”

  Ethan stared up at the sky. A beam of green fluorescent light pierced into the dull gray atmosphere. The sun brought the dawn but was overshadowed by a foggy overcast. In the distance, the moon hung on the bewildering landscape. Ethan caught his breath as he rolled on his back. He closed his eyes and dropped his head.

  "Ugh," Ethan exclaimed. Slowly he leaned forward and rose to his feet. "What is wrong with me?”

  He fought the urge to lay back down. He palmed his head in his hands.

  "Hecatan..." he rasped. "Answer me!"

  She took a step forward and reached out her hand. He clenched both his fist as pain shot through his body.

  "Leave me alone." he continued.

  "You need to calm down..."

  Hecatan looked up at the sky.

  "Your body is responding to the effects of the lifestream."

  Ethan glanced at Erebus, then turned to Osira.

  "And what about these two...” he uttered. “Here to finish the job?”

  Erebus squinted his eyes and Osira crossed her arms. Ethan glanced at Osira. He smirked as he noticed she did not carry her crossbow. He patted his chest then searched his pants pockets. He rose to his feet and marched towards Osira.

  "Where is it?" he demanded. "I know you were here last night!"

  Osira bit her lip.

  She stared into Ethan's blue eyes then walked away from him.

  "Get over here!" he yelled.

  Ethan approached her and grabbed her arm.

  "Where did you take Sera?" he continued.

  "Pontus has the girl," Hecatan uttered. “The Titans have the Occulus and are in the final stage of convergence.”

  “No!” Ethan whispered. He held his hands on top of his head and closed his eyes. Slowly he opened them and stared at Osira.

  "You...” he uttered. “You brought those things to her... You got Sera taken away!”

  Ethan grabbed her wrist and pulled Osira close to him.

  Osira gasped as she was taken into his arms.

  “What do you want?” he demanded.

  Osira didn’t respond. Ethan took a look at her face and hesitated.

  “You can’t just come and go as you please?” he continued.

  "Let me go, Ethan."

  She reached over to slap him, but he grabbed her hand. She opened it up and revealed the tracking monitor.

  Ethan took it.

  Still set to Sera, Ethan sighed in relief as he saw the blinking white blimp. He pushed a button and he set the device to search for Damien. The screen flickered then finally seized frozen. He noticed the boy’s heartbeat was missing.

  "What did you do to this?" Ethan growled.

  "After I retrieved it from you..." Osira uttered, "I came into a mixup with ‘pales’ over there and his friend. I lost it in my transport but after a fight with the Titans...”

  Ethan stared at her. His expession was bare.

  “It’s complicated, I know,” she added.

  “We retrieved it from her vehicle before seeing you,” Hecatan interrupted.

  Ethan shook his head then somberly walked away.

  "I don't have time for this..." he shouted.

  He turned towards Osira and pointing at her. "I don't have time for any of you.”

  Ethan limped as he proceeded towards the Manor.

  "Wait!" Hecatan shouted.

  Ethan threw up his hands and continued forward.

  "Childish," Erebus uttered.

  "Stop it," Hecatan insisted.

  She ran beside Ethan.

  "There is no time for distractions-"

  "I'm searching for the boy," Ethan interrupted her.

  "Damien is in danger...” he spoke and then paused for a moment. “Just because now you are all ‘super friends’ doesn’t change that one bit.”

  "Chronos has summoned Tartarus," she blurted. "In order to complete the convergence Sera must be sacrificed.”

  Ethan stepped towards her.

  "What do you mean, sacrificed?"

  "The orb has been dismantled," she continued. "Chronos intends to kill the girl to complete the void missing in the Occulus."

  "Sera..." Ethan uttered. “But why?”

  “Her blood contains the remaining partition that completes the Occulus. Sacrificing her can eliminate the lifestream. But in the hands of Chronos, who knows what he will unleash if we allow him to do so."

  Ethan looked down at the tracker. He banged the device then set the parameters back to Sera. The screen flickered then held steady. Her white blimp was pulsating back at New Gate. He pressed a button and went back to Damien. There was still no bleep.

  "Sera’s fine," Ethan grunted. He put the device in his pocket. "Leo’s her father. He’ll know how to track her... If anyone can find Sera, he can."

  Hecatan’s mouth dropped.

  "You can’t possibly believe that?”

  "I don't," Ethan replied, "But following the tracker is useless. Her location is all over the place. If the Titans have Sera and are making their way to Neoma, they’ll probably end up in the Bog anyway... Leo is there. He can handle whatever comes his way.”

  Hecatan watched as Ethan limped away.

  "So that's it?" she cried out.

  "I need to do what is right for me," he replied.

  Erebus turned his back and threw his hands in the air.

  “Go...” he yelled at Ethan. “Go on then!”

  Erebus turned towards Hecatan. "You expect me to believe this is our savior?"

  "Hush," Osira whispered. "I've seen the depths of his devotion. I looked beyond his eyes... There’s no limit to how far he would go to protect the people he loved.”

  "So the hell with the rest of us, right!" Erebus scoffed.

  Osira marched in front of Ethan and stopped.

  "You're in bad shape...” she barked.

  Ethan shook his head.

  “How long?” she uttered. “How long will it take before you die out there alone?"

  She placed her hand on his chin. Leaning in close, she whispered in his ear. "What can I do to make you come around?"

  Ethan tilted his head away from her lips. He grabbed her hand. "You
can't," he snapped back.

  Erebus tugged at Ethan’s shoulder. He swung him around and punched Ethan in the mouth. The tracker flew out of Ethan’s pocket as he fell to the ground. Erebus picked it up.

  He mashed the screen, growing increasingly frustrated.

  "How do you work this contraption?" he cursed.

  Ethan picked himself up. He ran towards Erebus and lunged for the device. A foot taller than Ethan, Erebus held it high in the air.

  “Let it go, asshole!" Ethan demanded.

  Erebus stared him down.

  “His name is Erebus...” Hecatan uttered. “...and he’s a primordial... was.” she continued.

  "Primordial, huh?" Ethan replied. "Seems like you got your man for the job, here.”

  Hecatan approached them. She stared up at Ethan.

  "He's in no condition to take on Chronos by himself... and looking at what's before me, neither are you."

  Ethan snatched the tracker from Erebus. He punched in a few configurations then held out the device.

  “Here...It's set."

  Ethan looked down at the monitor. He noticed Sera’s location was shattered around the world.

  Suddenly, it stopped.

  Sera’s blimp was in the North, fixed upon the Soverign Stone Crater. He looked up at Hecatan and gave her the tracker.

  "The crater," she whispered. "Chronos brought her to the origin of the lifestream."

  With a sigh, Ethan tilted his head up.

  "We've got to stop them," he added.

  He lowered his head then looked up before glancing at Hecatan.

  "I'm getting her back," he uttered.

  "Not alone," Hecatan insisted.

  "Where..." Osira interrupted. "Where is this crater?"

  "It's up North... in the mountains," Ethan replied.

  "It's also the location where the Occulus was split," Hecatan added. "This could be our last chance to make a stand. It's extremely cold there..." she included. "and neither of us is dress to withstand the harsh climate."

  Ethan glanced over at Erebus.

  "He is... well, sort of.”

  He approached the hooded man.

  "Give me your cloak.”

  Ethan reached for Erebus's garment. Erebus pulled back.

  Hecatan motion for the cloak to be relinquished. Erebus clenched his teeth. He took off his garment and gave it to Hecatan. He walked away bare-chested.

  Osira picked up a pistol. She gave it to Ethan as she approached him.

  "Don't expect me to apologize,” she uttered. “I did what I had to-"

  "Don't," Ethan insisted, retrieving the gun.

  She cracked a smile. "I can see why she liked you.”

  Ethan smiled too.

  "Just stop those assholes,” she uttered.

  Ethan looked at his gun.

  "I’ve already made that promise before...”

  "Don’t promise... just execute.”

  “Execute them all,” Erebus added.

  Ethan nodded his head. He cocked the chamber of his weapon.

  "You can count on it... I'm getting Sera back!"

  Hecatan approached Ethan.

  She clutched Erebus’s cloak.

  “As much as a tender moment this is...” she uttered, “I hate the idea that Chronos is still out there.”

  She pass the garment to Ethan.

  "It's not much... but it's better than that t-shirt your wearing."

  Ethan grabbed the cloak.

  "It smells like death," he replied.

  He glanced back at Erebus. He stood bare-chested with his arms crossed.

  "You alright there, buddy?”

  "He will be fine," Hecatan replied to Ethan.

  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment.

  "Besides wearing his cloak, I want you to carry this paper.”

  “What is this for?”

  “You're going behind enemy lines in a cold climate... When the time arises, this will help you even the odds.”

  Ethan took the parchment.

  "Sera is contained inside a block of ice," she continued. "You will need these directions to get her out of there."

  Ethan held up the paper. Before he could read the inscription, Hecatan lowered his arms down.

  “Trust me...” she instructed. “When the time comes... you will know.”

  Ethan took the paper and folded it up. He put it in his back pocket.

  "I may have a plan," she uttered. "I'll go and search for the boy at the estate. You take my companion and go to the Northern Crater.”

  The dog approached Ethan.

  “If Chronos plans to intercept Leo and Neoma, Erebus and Osira will provide support by entering the Bog. If all goes well, a portal will be ready to transport you all to Shangri La."

  Hecatan waved out her hand. A portal spiraled opened and appeared.

  "You two..." she instructed Erebus and Osira. "Time to get moving.”

  Erebus entered the portal. As Osira followed behind him, she turned back and glanced at Ethan. The light from the gateway radiated off her face. Ethan clenched his jaw and stared back at her. She went inside the portal.

  Hecatan motioned for Ethan to join her. She waved her hand again, this time summoning a new location.

  "Here you go!" she uttered. "Please be careful."

  Ethan shrugged his shoulders.

  "My dog is very old...” she continued.

  She took a stiff pause.

  “Please don't make me hurt you, Ethan."

  Ethan nodded his head, then stroke his chin.

  “Just find my friend, alright...” he uttered. “Your dog will be fine.”

  Ethan jumped through the portal and the dog followed.

  INTO THE BOG

  Domestic

  Leo cut his meat with a steak knife. He pulled away from his breakfast to glance up at Neoma.

  Say something, he thought. With irritation, he gritted his teeth. You’ve never been this quiet.

  He pondered the horrors she faced being held in captivity. The thought of a Belmont’s hands on her smooth olive skin made his blood rage. He looked back at his plate. The idea of severing flesh was savory as he separated a thick piece of meat from its bone.

  I’ll make my way back to you, Belmont.. Pray the days we never meet.

  He pierced the chunk of meat with his fork. Now on his third drink, he sipped his wine and bit his food with reverence.

  "I hope the meal is to your liking?” he uttered. “I found what I could and prepared you a herbivorous dish.”

  The plate was the least of Neoma’s concerns. She leaned in close and stared back at Leo.

  "Your meal is fine..." she replied. "Thank you."

  "I was fortunate enough to secure this cabin," Leo uttered, still feeding himself. "Thankfully, it was furnished with plenty to eat-"

  Neoma’s twisted her lip.

  Two dead men laid slumped against the cabin wall. Their face were severely beaten and a knife was lodge in the back of their heads. She refused to look at their bodies.

  "Why did you bring me here?" she interrupted.

  Leo took another sip of his wine then placed the glass on the table.

  "To dine with my wife... Share some wine and merriment.”

  Neoma crossed her arms.

  Leo crackled his neck. With a deep sigh, he opened his mouth.

  “We're in the thickest part of the Bog...” he confessed. “Shangri La is not that far out. Soon, we can call it our home as we reunite with our daughter, Jubilee.”

  Neoma turned her head and glanced at the two dead men laid sprawled across the cabin room floor.

  "Their life was in this cabin...” she uttered. “Shouldn't they deserve a home?"

  Leo sipped his wine.

  "They deserve a hole in the back of their heads..." he blurted out.

  He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. With hesitation, he settled his glass back down on the table.

  "My apologies...” he continued. �
�This wine... Wow... great stuff!"

  He rose from his breakfast and approached the two men. He reached in one of their shirts and pulled out a business card.

  "The Survivor Man..." Leo read. "Extreme Tactical Reality Show."

  He turned towards Neoma and nodded his head.

  “What do we have in here,” he continued.

  He reached in the pocket of the other man.

  “A broken compass,” he uttered.

  He stared at the reflection of himself on the cracked glass. He dropped the compass in his pocket.

  "What are you doing?" Neoma whispered. "Have you gone mad?"

  Leo looked at the dead man. His eyes were still open as he laid before him.

  "My dear... I am not mad."

  Leo rose to his feet. He slumped the body forward and grabbed a cylinder container. He walked back towards the table.

  Leo grew irritated as he unraveled a set of blueprints and a map.

  "This..." he continued. "This right here makes me INFURIATED!"

  He pounded his fist on the table.

  Neoma covered her ears and shrieked.

  "Stop this, Leonidas!"

  He pointed toward the Apex logo. It was embedded at the bottom of the blueprint.

  "You see this?” he growled. “It's from them! They know about us... they know about our place...”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Shangri La... those two assholes were sent as scouts to survey our home... But NO! This...”

  Leo pointed at the mountainside on the map.

  “This land belongs to us!” he continued.

  He pulled her from the chair.

  "Let me go!" she cried out.

  Leo backed away and released his grasp.

  "I'm sorry..." he uttered, raising his hands high in the air. "I'm sorry-"

  Neoma grabbed her knife. In a swift motion, she held it to Leo’s throat.

  "I’ve had enough of this!"

  She leaned in close to him.

  "For eons, I sat and suffered... waited patiently and stayed quiet... listened to what a king thought was best for me... accepted that men like you would mistreat me... and for what? Only to hear them utter those exact words again... I'm sorry?"

  She spat on the floor.

  "I don't ever want to hear those words come out of your mouth again, Leonidas... I’ve given you all that I have... I gave you my soul... I turned you into a god amongst men."